The biggest reason people fail at diets, according to a dietitian

The whole concept of a diet is backwards, because in most cases, what society thinks of as a "diet" is based on the idea of less.

The idea of deprivation, ingrained in many diets, gives us control over a situation in the short term. It doesn't become a habit,  and 10 days — maybe two weeks — later, we see that deprivation rebound when self-control finally dwindles.

Make small but sustainable changes, stay away from anything extreme, and build up small changes over time. 

Most people would rather have a horrible 10 days of a raw, low-carb, no salt, no sugar, no water diet and return to their old habits than really have to address that $150 Frappuccino bill they're racking up each month.